Liz Krueger's News items

On April 1st, the State Legislature finished approving the budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, only a few hours after the official deadline. As important as it is to pass an on-time budget, I found the process leading up to this one's passage to be disappointing for a number of reasons. Key negotiations that resulted in over a billion dollars in new spending, and the shifting around of billions more occurred almost entirely behind closed doors, a continuation of Albany's culture of secrecy and back-room deals.

TheSenate Majorityincreases throw money at a broken system without enacting restructuring to alleviate the financial burden that the State has placed on local government to cover ballooning Medicaid costs. These local communities, saddled with Medicaid costs, must often increase property taxes in order to meet their healthcare obligations.

“They are trying to pretend that they are not increasing the budget, but the numbers don’t lie, they do,” Krueger declared.

Albany—State Senator Liz Krueger is pleased to announce that the Senate today passed the Worker's Compensation Bill, a comprehensive package of reforms to the state’s workers compensation system that addresses many chronic problems with this system."This was an instance where everyone knew that the system was broken.

New York—Approximately 30 tenants at two SRO buildings (the Parkside Evangeline and Ten-Eyck Troughton) which are owned and operated by the Salvation Army (SA) filed suit today to stop the SA's attempts to evict their residents. If the buildings are allowed to close, approximately 600 units of affordable housing for women in Manhattan will be lost.

Reforming Albany. It sure sounds catchy, but until recently it has turned out to be little more than a rhetorical discussion among a few of us. However, last Tuesday, something unusual happened in the NY State Senate. Working with my Democratic colleagues, we unveiled a sweeping legislative rules reform package, debated the merits of each of the proposals and cast our vote.We didn't propose anything radical—just a more open and democratic process similar to what is found in Congress and legislatures in most other states.

Albany--State Senator Liz Krueger led the Senate Minority in unveiling a comprehensive legislative rules reform package, endorsed by New York’s leading good government groups, including Common Cause NY, the League of Women Voters, the Brennan Center, NYPIRG and others. "The results of the last two elections should have been a clarion call for legislators that New Yorkers are not happy with how this government is being run.

New York —State Senator Liz Krueger this week commenced the fifth edition of her Democracy 101: Youth Civics Project program, with the highest number of participants to date. A total of 68 students have enrolled in the 5-month, 6-session program. "Our enrollment expectations have always been met, but this year we have seen an unprecedented level of interest," Krueger said.

New York—Seeking to codify a concise, easily understood document, State Senator Liz Krueger has introduced the Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights. The legislation, S8511, draws upon New York State Rules and Regulations, the Best Hospital Practices and the World Health Organization Baby Friendly guidelines. "Breastfeeding is completely natural, and is in the best interests of our children.

Albany, NY—State Senator Liz Krueger today called for increased oversight and reform of the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), after learning the ESDC had been allowing localities to sell Empire Zone tax breaks to private companies not otherwise eligible for these benefits. "There is a pattern with the ESDC that we have to break," Krueger said. "While the Legislature has since closed this specific loophole, the deals the ESDC previously made continue to cost us millions in revenue every year.

New York—State Senator Liz Krueger today called upon New York to learn from the mistakes of states who rushed into compliance with 2002 federal HAVA standards, including systems absent a verifiable paper-trail and inadequate facilities for voters with disabilities.

The Brennan Center follow up report on our Legislature's notorious dysfunction echoes what the Senate Minority Conference has been saying for years. The Majority has reluctantly agreed to offer only the most minimum of reforms after being forced to do so by Senate Minority who won three seats in 2004 with a strong reform message.

The Brennan Center follow up report on our Legislature's notorious dysfunction echoes what the Senate Minority Conference has been saying for years. The Majority has reluctantly agreed to offer only the most minimum of reforms after being forced to do so by Senate Minority who won three seats in 2004 with a strong reform message.

For too long voters have had to tolerate high taxes, underfunded schools and a culture of corruption that undermines the people's faith in their state government.

The legislation (A.6619/S.5121) passed the Assembly in 2005 and 2006. It died in the Senate the first time and was held up by the Health Committee in the recent legislative session. The program would enable school districts, school-based health centers, BOCES and community organizations to apply for grants to develop and implement programs that provide students with real sex education.

New York—Today, New York State Senator Liz Krueger was pleased to congratulate Upper East Side colleague, State Senator Jose Serrano, for receiving the highest score from one of New York State's leading environmental policy agencies. Krueger, a staunch environmentalist in her own right, is tied for the 2nd highest score out of 62 senators.

She recognized that despite being "very proud of our efforts, most environmentally-responsible bills continue to get blocked in the Majority-controlled Senate."

Defeat of Death Penalty Statute:Senator Krueger spoke out and voted against a bill to reinstate the death penalty when it came to the floor of the Senate this year (the bill passed 37-22), then commended the Assembly Codes Committee for voting against the companion bill. Senator Krueger, a life-time opponent of the death penalty, pointed out that the death penalty is a failed model for cr

My name is Liz Krueger and I represent the 26th State Senate District, which includes the Upper East Side, East Midtown and Midtown neighborhoods of Manhattan . I appreciate this opportunity to express my full support for the 197-a plan for the eastern half of Manhattan Community District 6 proposed by Community Board 6 (CB 6) and the East Side Rezoning Alliance (ESRA). Section 197-a of the New York City Charter empowers Community Boards to develop and propose land-use plans that will provide a framework for future development and growth of their communities.

New York NY –Friday, Assemblymember Pete Grannis and State Senator Liz Krueger presented three crossing guards for PS 158 (Maryann Medaglia, Margaret P. Novak and Luz Saldana) with State Legislature Resolutions honoring school crossing guards statewide, on the occasion of School Crossing Guard Week 2006. Grannis and Krueger were joined at the presentation by Libby Jordan and Sholeh Brahimy, co-Presidents of the PS 158 Parents' Association. "School crossing guards are a vital and integral part of our educational system," Grannis said.